Another casualty of Brexit is likely to be Tayto Cheese & Onion. The crisp is a popular delicacy locally and tops the list of things ex-pats miss about Northern Ireland (soda bread and potato bread take the number 2 and 3 positions).

Tayto (Northern Ireland) was formed in 1956 by the Hutchinson family and licensed the name and recipes of Tayto Crisps in the Republic of Ireland. As part of the agreement only Tayto Northern Ireland could sell in the UK. This was not an issue for the Republic of Ireland Tayto, which was content with its home market. But with mass emigration from the Republic to Britain in the 60’s and 70’s the company came to realise that they had foolishly given up a valuable export territory.

Over the years, Tayto (Republic of Ireland) has tried to rescind the license from their Northern competitors but to no avail. Now legal experts say Brexit has given them the opportunity they need to grab back control of the valuable UK market.

Lapif Loor, a Norwegian expat and expert on EU trade Law at Queen’s University Belfast, had this to say:

“In the revised 1976 licensing contract the marketing territories were defined based on the EU framework. Tayto (Northern Ireland) got the UK territory and Tayto (Republic of Ireland) got the rest of Europe. With the UK leaving the EU there is a case to be made that this invalidates the agreement and Tayto (Republic of Ireland) can void the agreement.”

But it seems Tayto (Northern Ireland) are on the ball. Anticipating this threat several years ago they bought the Golden Wonder brand to keep their foothold in the UK market.

If Tayto (Northern Ireland) is forced to stop selling their Cheese & Onion crisps this will lead to Southern Tayto being sold in the North. This is bound to enrage Unionists who will see it as another step on the road to a United Ireland.

But in all seriousness Northern Tayto is mank and Free Stayto is a far superior crisp.

Also Cadburys chocolate produced in the south is far nicer than the British chocolate.

Anyone who says otherwise is wrong.

Brian O’Neill

What about king cheese and onion?

hollandia

The implications of this appear to be extremely serious. As a former tayto mule, I understand the consequences of a constriction in the market. Expect crisp cartels carving up the North and a cia led assassination attempt on Mr Tayto. He didn’t get that castle for free, just saying…

hollandia

You are right about the chocolate. I strongly disagree about the crisps.

Timothyhound

What’s the world coming to? Meanwhile in Dublin it’s announced that a Five Star hotel bearing the Trump brand will open in the former Liberty Hall. Whether it be crisps or trade unions no one appears to have principles anymore.

Great conversation!! Hit the recommended heart to spread the word!! (Where’s 38 Degrees when you really need them!!!)

Conchúr Ó Conghaile

King is a good session crisp its stronger flavour makes excellent soakage as a pub snack to accompany a feed of pints.

Southern Tayto is a more generalist crisp. It’s excellent balance between flavour and crispy texture make it a crisp for any occasion. Southern Cheese and Onion is the original and the best.
Recommended with two heavily buttered slices of sliced pan to make an incredibly satisfying snack.

Nordie Tayto is a far weaker crisp. The flavour balance skews towards sour. They are quite oily and they have a tendency to get soggy. Like many things from Northern Ireland they are enjoyed by the locals but when you look at them objectively they are actually quite mediocre.

One of the strongest newcomers to the Crisp market is Keogh’s they’ve made a pitch towards the crisper Kettle Chips style crisp and to a stronger flavour. Like a heavier red wine, they are best enjoyed occasionally.

As far Walkers and Golder Wonder I wouldn’t feed that English muck to a dog.

Brian O’Neill

I think you will find a buttered Belfast bap is a far superior vehicle for a tayto sandwich.

mickfealty

Good point. And on that, here’s what must be the worlds hardest working metaphor to chew on…

The North is the best for Chinese takeaways, the curry in the South is minging. The South does the best traditional grub, baked ham, roast chicken, corned beef etc. Scotland does the best fish and chips and Indian food.

hollandia

For shame. Tayto baps require the bread to be scooped out, rolled into a doughball, and consumed separately to the crisp bap. They can take away your passport for espousing treachery such as yours.

AntrimGael

A staple school lunch during the conflict. A bap (when did Belfast ever prefix it, we always knew it was OUR bap), scooped out with crisps in it. Then maybe a torpedo (big bap with cream and jam) on a Friday and a single (No 6 fag) up behind tbe trees in St. Malachy’s. Sometimes tbe Army would walk out from the jail, go along the top of tbe pitch, and go into Girdwood…….accompanied by catcalls from some of North Belfast’s finest scholars.

AntrimGael

I’ll show you a real Nordie soda from a real bakery and raise you a toasted Veda.

Korhomme

Nice one, Brian!

hollandia

Brexit means MSG means MSG…

Brian O’Neill

They are made by tayto 😜

Oggins

Keogh’s, and a nice pint of craft porter…. Bliss

Ian Finn

I’ll see your Veda and raise you toasted Soreen

AntrimGael

Ulster Scots?

AntrimGael

Soreen?? Lol, that wee hard as hell raison thing?

grumpy oul man

how dare you, the Belfast bap hollowed out and filled with Tayto cheese and onion and a bit of HP sauce is the food of champions.

grumpy oul man

Hes a Belfast bap lundy!

grumpy oul man

Torpedo’s! from the wee shop on the antrim rd near St Malachys. now they were good.

Sharpie

Flail

AntrimGael

McDonaghs, top of Churchill Street, sadly long gone.

AntrimGael

I was with you all the way….up to the HP sauce bit……. you’ve really let the side down there lol.

If I can drag you chaps back to the real world, I think it’s high time that the DUP were hauled over the coals for their failure to implement the agreed-upon translations on Tayto bags so that speakers of marginalised languages will no longer be oppressed in the Taytlet.

It is long overdue:

Tayto
Taieghteach
Thay-toh

Is how it should read. And at a bare minimum of expense to the taxpayer.

babyface finlayson

Ideal!

paul mcmenemy

Apparently in the deal the Republic got the wrong recipe and has been making their crisps with compressed Smash.. Slugger has got into #projectfear this beginning of April. UlsterFry is raging!

El Daddy

Excellent objective analysis

Nevin

Plato Tayto, the thinking man’s crisp!

mickfealty

Can I just say, bravo Brian!!! We have to deal with some odd stuff on this by now elderly elderly blog (15 in June), but that sheer levity was something we needed in this era of humbug. Thanks for the Disqus recommends, and the FB shares.